Slate-picker.



G. S. PARKER.

SLATE PIGKBR. APPLICATION FILED .TAN.11, 15111.

Patented July 16, 1912.

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wue/wtoa I I Mme? Q m o O 0 -1 -"i O i Nm I FKMNN o 1, NR0 kw 741.. I MNfa \N\ w 5 Patented July 16, 1912.

10 SHEETSSHEET 4.

ame/wtdz COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 10.. WASHINGTON,

C. S. PARKER.

SLATE PIGKBR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

c. s; FARRBR.

' SLATE PIGKER. uru unmn FILED 1111.11, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co.,WAs1-|1Nm'oN. D; c.

U. S. PARRER.

} SLATE PIGKER. APPLICATION FILED 11.11.11, 1911.

1,032,477. Patented July 16, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

a. s. PARKER. SLATE PIGKBR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN/11, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEBT 8.

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G. S. FARRER.

SLATE PIOKEB.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

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c LuMBiA PLANOURAPH 410., WASHINGTON D c O. S. PARKER.-

SLATE PIGKBR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1911.

1,032,477. Patented July 16,1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

Charles SFZirreI;

COLUMBIA PLAN llllllllllllllllllllllllll c.

unison sans SLATE-P-ICKER.

Application filed January 11, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Serial No. 602,078

'0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. Fennnn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Dunmore, in the county ofLackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Slate-Pickers, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an improved slate picker for separating coal fromslate and consists in the construction, combination and ar rangement ofdevices, hereinafter described and claimed.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved form of slatepicking machine which is mounted for angular movement in a verticalplane, and is provided with means for adjusting the same to and securingthe same at any desired inclination.

A further object is to effect improvements in the means for adjustingthe slate picker.

A further object is to effect improvements in the construction of theseparating chutes.

A. further object is to effect improvements in the construction of theplungers which operate in connection with the coal pockets, and theseparating chutes.

A further object is to provide improved means for actuating the plunger.

A further object is to eifect improvements in the construction of theseparating knives.

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of the separatingknives, the pockets and deflectors.

A further object is to provide improved means for adjusting theseparating knives.

A further object is to effect an improved novel arrangement of theseparating chutes, pockets, separating knives, slate discharge chute,and coal discharge chute, whereby the coal is graded at the same timethat it is separated from the slate and honey coal, and whereby thedifferent grades of coal are discharged independently of one anotherdirectly from the machine as rapidly as the slate is picked or separatedfrom the coal.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 l is a diagrammatic longitudinalvertical sectional view of a slate picker constructed in accordance withmy invent-ion, showing the general arrangement and combination of thevarious parts and mechanisms thereof. Fig. 2 is a detail verticalcentral longitudinal section of the lower portion of the slate picker ona larger scale. Fig. 2 is a similar view of another portion of the slatepicker on the same scale as Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a similar view of' anotherportion of the slate picker on the same scale as Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 Fig.2 is a similar view of the upper portion of the slate picker on the samescale as Figs. 2, 2 and 2*. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of aportion of my improved slate picker on a larger scale, and showing spe--cifically the construction of one of the separating chutes, one of theplungers, and the guides for the said plunger. Fig. 4C is a verticaltransverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the line (ft-64 ofFig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the plane indicated by the line 6-6of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a similar view on the plane indicated by the line c-c of Fig. 2 Fig. 7 is a similar view on'the plane indicated by the lined-cl of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a similar view on the plane indicated by theline cZcZ' of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on the planeindicated by the line c@ of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectionalview on the plane indicated by the line g of Fig. 2. Figs. 11 and 12 arerespectively a detail end elevation and a plan of one of the slide pans.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a main frame which carriesthe slate and coal chutes and also carries all the mechanism forseparating the slate from the coal and delivering the separated slateand coal into the chutes which carry them off. The sides 1 of the mainframe are here shown as channel bars. A bottom 2 connects the said sidebars and coacts therewith to form a slate chute. Side plates 3 which aredisposed at suitable regular distances apart are arranged in pairs onopposite sides of the frame, and are here shown as having their lowerends out-turned and bolted to the upper sides of the channel bars 1. Apair of side plates 4 are also disposed at the upper end of the frame ofthe slate picker, and have their lower ends bolted to the upper sides ofthe channel bars 1. Upper bars 5 which are in practice angle bars,extend longitudinally of the frame of the slate picker, and are securedto the plates 3, 4 as shown. The plates 3 form the sides of coalpockets, of which five are here shown respectively numbered 6, 7 8, 9and 10, the bottom of each coal pocket being formed by oppositelyinclined plates 11 which are secured on supporting knees 11 12 which arebolted to the inner sides of the channel bars 1. A feed chute 13is-secured on knees 14 which are bolted to the inner sides of thechannel bars 1 near the upper ends thereof. Spaced a suitable distancein front of the knees 14 and also in rear of the knees 12 are knees 15which are bolted to the channel bars 1. The said knees 12, 14 and 15carry transversely disposed angle bars 16. The rear knees 15 also carryangle bars 17 each of which has a horizontal web that lies on and isriveted to the horizontal web of one of the bars 16 and a vertical web18 which extends downwardly below the vertical web of the said bar 16 sothat the vertical webs of the bars 17 and the vertical webs of the bars16 in front thereof form guideways 19 between them in which operateplungers 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. The plungers are identical inconstruction and I will therefore, only describe one of them. A pair ofangle bars 25, 26 are disposed with their horizontal webs in overlappingrela tion, one above the other, and on the-angle bar 26, is an angle bar27, the horizontal web of which bears on that of the angle bar 26, thevertical web 28 of the angle bar 27 being disposed nearest the upper orintake end of the machine, and in line with the vertical web of theangle bar 25, and forming a tongue or stop which extends upwardly. Thesuperposed horizontal webs of the angle bars 25, 26, 27 are securedtogether and also to a cross bar 29 by means of bolts, rivets or othersuitable devices 30.

Bearings 31 are secured on the bars 5 at suitable points, and in thesaid bearings are mounted rock shafts 32, each of which is provided withcrank disks 33. Connecting rods 34 have their upper ends pivotallymounted on crank pins or recesses 35 with which the crank disks areprovided, and their lower ends pivotally mounted on the ends of thecross bars 29. From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings, itwill be understood that when oscillating motion is imparted to thecrankdisks, re-

ciprocating motion is imparted to the plungers so that they alternatelymove downwardly and upwardly in the guide-ways 19. The three pairs ofupper crank disks 33 are connected together by link rods 36 which areconnected to crank pins or wrists 37 with which the said crank disks areprovided. The two lower pairs of crank disks are connected together bysimilar links 38.

On the lower sides of the channel bars 1 at the centers thereof aresecured a pair of gudgeons 39 which have their bearings on shoes 40which are bolted on the upper side of a frame 41 of suitable height.Each of the said shoes has a segmental face 42 on which one of thegudgeons bears, and is provided at the inner side of the segmental facewith a flange 43 which bears against the' inner side of the gudgeon, theflanges preventing lateral movement of the gudgeons as will beunderstood. The gudgeons are provided with bearings for a shaft 44 whichis provided at one end with a pulley 45 operated by a suitable drivingbelt, and the said shaft is also provided with an eccentric 46 and witha spur gear 47. The said eccentric is engaged by an eccentric strap 48to which is attached the lower end of an eccentric rod 49, the upper endof the said rod being pivotally connected as at 50 to a crank arm 51which is secured on one of the upper series of rock shafts 32. Thegudgeons are also provided with bearings for a countershaft 52 to whichis secured a spur gear 53 which engages the gear 47 and an eccentric 54which is engaged by an eccentric strap 55 to which the lower end of aneccentric rod 56 is secured, the upper end of the said eccentric rodbeing pivotally connected as at 57 to a crank arm 58 which is secured toone of the lower series of rock shafts 32. It will be understood thatwhen the shaft is in rotation, the counter-shaft, the eccentrics, theeccentric rods and the crank arms will impart oscillating motion to allof the rock shafts hereinbefore described, and hence the plungers willbe operated.

I will now describe means coacting with the gudgeons and the bearingshoes therefor, for tilting or inclining the slate picker as may berequired by the varying conditions of the work, and supporting the sameat any desired adjusted inclined position.

A rock shaft 59 is mounted in bearings 60 which are secured to the undersides of the bars 1, near the lower ends thereof, and on the said rockshaft at one side of the machine, is secured a ratchet wheel 6O which isengaged by a pawl 61, the said pawl being pivotally mounted as at 62.The said rock shaft is also provided near its ends, with crank arms 63,and is provided at one end wit-h an adjusting lever 64. The crank armsare connected by links 65 to plates 66 which are secured on the frame 41or on any other suitable support, the said plates 66 being provided ontheir upper sides with spaced pairs of lugs 67 bet-ween which the lowerends of the said links 65 are pivotally con nected as at 68, the upperends of the said links being pivotally connected to the crank arm 63 asat 69.

It will be obvious that by a partial rotav shaft, so that the slatepicker is nearly balanced and hence comparatively little power need beexpended in adjusting the picker to any desired angle. Another advantageis that in adjusting the picker its lower end need only be raised orlowered a slight distance as compared with what would be re quired toadjust the picker to the same angle if the pivotal axis thereof was atone of its ends. Another advantage is that by centrally locating thedriving shaft the vibration incident to the operating of the variousmoving parts of the picker is greatly diminished and the variousconnecting rods are much shorter than would be otherwise re quired.Moreover, by thus centrally locating the driving shaft the latter formsthe double functions of a pivot and a driving element and the tension ofthe driving belt on the driving pulley 45 is. not affected by theangular adjustment or inclination of the picker.

My improved slate picker is provided with separating chutes, one, foreach coal pocket,

' the said separating chutes being each located in advance of and aboveone of the coal pockets, and being respectively indicated at 70, 71, 72,73 and 74. These separating chutes are identical in construction and Iwill therefore, specifically describe only one of them. Each separatingchute comprises a pair of slidably related sections 75, 70. The section75 is in advance of and slightly above the section 76 and comprises abottom 77 and sides 78, which may be integral, and which in practice aremade of plate metal. Each upper or intake section 75 is provided at itsupper end at its sides with a pair of hooks 79 which engage the knees 15so as to secure the upper ends of the said sections, and yet permit themto be moved angularly in a vertical plane. Each section 75 is providedwith side extensions '80 which extend downwardly and rearwardly from thesides thereof and beyond the bottom thereof, and are disposed above aportion of the section 76 so as to form sides thereof. The bottom ofeach section 75 is preferably provided on its under side wit-h an anglebar 81 to brace and strengthen the same, the said angle bar being boltedthereto.

Each section 7 6 comprises a truck frame 82 having wheels 83 mounted onan axle 84, the said wheels bearing on truck rails or bars 85, which aredisposed at an angle to the channel bars 1, have their upper endssecured to the knees 15, and their lower ends secured to the plates 3.Each axle 84: is provided with a hand wheel or lever 86 whereby it maybe turned, and is also provided with a ratchet wheel 87 engaged by apawl 88, the said pawl being mounted on a pivot 89. Each truck isprovided near its upper end with a rock shaft 90 mounted in suitablebearings therein, and provided with a ratchet wheel 91, and also with apair of cranks 92, each of the said cranks carrying a roller 93 whichbears on one of the truck bars 85. The said rock shaft is also providedwith a hand wheel or lever 94 whereby it may be turned to move the crankarms and hence cause the truck to be adjusted angularly with respect tothe track bars as may be required to raise or lower the upper end of thetruck and hence also raise or lower the lower end of the section 75which bears thereon.

The ratchet wheel 91 is engaged by a pawl 95 which is mounted on thepivot 89 and coacts with the ratchet wheel 91 to secure the truck orlower member or section of the separating chute in any desired angularadjusted position with respect to the section 75 thereof. Chains, cablesor other suitable flexible elements 96 have their upper ends secured tothe knees 15 as by means of bolts 97, and their lower ends attached tothe axle 84 as at 98. On the upper side of the truck frame of the lowersection 76 at suitable distances from the front or upper end thereof aresecured a pair of transversely disposed spaced angle bars 99, 100 towhich are secured angle bars 101. A plate 102 which forms a portion ofthe bottom of the lower section of the separating chute bears at, andnear its rear end on the upper sides of the said bars 101, and issecured thereto as by means of bolts 1.03, the bolts which secure thesaid bars to the bars 99 100, being shown at 104. The upper section 75of the separating chute bears on the bottom plate 102 of the lowersection of the separating chute, and is slidably related thereto, thelower section being longitudinally adjustable with respect to the uppersection, so that the length of the separating chute formed by theoverlapping slidably related upper and lower sect-ions may be varied asmay be required in order to dispose the lower end of the lower sectionat the required distance from the coal pocket below the same, and alsoto vary the angle between the bottom of the upper section and thebot-tom plate of the lower section, it being understood that the saidangle is increased when the said lower section is moved upwardly ortoward the in take end of the machine, and decreased when the said lowersection is moved in the opposite direction. At the lower end of thetruck frame of the section 76, on the upper side thereof is atransversely disposed angle bar 105 which is bolted thereon. A block 106lies on and between the angle bars 100 and 105, and on the upper sidethereof is a retarding element which forms the discharge portion of thebottom of the separating chute, the said retarding element being hereindicated as a plate or block 107 of grit or emery. In order tolongitudinally move the lower sections 76 of the separating chute it isonly necessary to turn the hand wheel 86 in the required direction tocause the axle 84 to partly wind up or pay out the chains 96.

Above each coal pocket is a separating blade, the said separating bladesbeing re spectively indicated at 108, 109, 110, 111 and 112. Eachseparating blade is secured to a cross bar 113 on one side of which andat the upper side of the blade is an angle bar 114. The ends of thecross bar 113 are pivoted to the lower ends of links 115, each of whichhas at its upper end, an eccentric strap 116, engaging an eccentric 117"on a rock shaft 119, the said rock shaft being mounted in suitablebearings 120, and being provided with a ratchet'wheel 121, and with alever 122 whereby it may be turned. The said ratchet wheel is engaged bya pawl 123 which has its pivot as at 124C. The lower ends 'of theeccentric links 115 to which the separating blades are pivotallyconnected operate between guides 125 formed by angle plates which aresecured to the inner sides of the plates 3.

In rear of the separating blades 108, 110, and 112 are feed plates 126,127, and 128 respectively, which are disposed across the upper intakeends of coal chutes 129, 130 and 131. The said feed plates reinforce theupper ends of the said coal chutes and also form trusses, and the endsof the said feed plates are secured on brackets which are formed byangle plates 132, the said angle plates being secured to the side plates3 and being disposed in an inclined position as shown.

It will be understood that the separating blades may be adjustedvertically by partially turning the rock shaft 119 by means of thelevers'122, the co-engaging ratchet wheels 121, and pawls 123, servingto secure the separating blades at any desired adjustment. The saidseparating blades 108, 110, and 112 bear on the front portions of thesaid feed plates 126, 127 and 128. The sepa rating blades 109, 111 areturned downwardly and bear against the front sides of the coal pockets7, 9 respectively, openings 133, 134; being respectively formed betweenthe said downwardly inclined separating blades and the rear ends of theseparating chutes 71, 73 through which openings slate is enabled to dropinto the slate chute 2. A

Q coal chute 135 extends from the coal pocket 10 in rear of and belowthe separating chute 74. Dashers 136, 137 are respectively arranged inrear of the upper portions of the separating blades 109, 111 and aresecured to and separated by transversely disposed angle bars 138.

In the operation of my improved slate picker, the reciprocating plungersregulate and control the passage of the material over the variousinclined planes presented by the chutes and the separating chutes,

each plunger when raised causing its tongue which extends above theplane with plunger descends, it coacts with the guides 16, 17 to form apocket above the plunger and between the guides, which pocket becomesfilled with material that passes over the tongue, and on the next ascentof the plunger, the material from the said pocket is discharged to theinclined plane below the said plunger as will be understood.

For the purposes of this specification, I have shown and described myimproved slate picker as a five drop machine, that is to say, it isprovided with five separating chutes, but the number of separatingchutes and consequently also the number of coal pockets, plungers andblades may be varied at will.

In the operation of my improved machine, assuming that the same has beenadjusted to the required angle, according to the condition of the coalas to whether it is wet or dry, and according also to other conditions,and also assuming that the separating chutes and separating blades havebeen properly adjusted, the material, coal mixed with slate, as it comesfrom the machine is discharged on to the feed plate, chute or inclinedplane 13 and from there by action of the plunger 20 is fed to theseparating chute 70. The momentum of the coal which passes down from thesaid sepa rating chute is such that the lighter coal falls upon theseparating blade 108 and passes therefrom on to the coal chute 129 whichdischarges it from the machine. The slate and slaty or honey coal isretarded by the retarding element or grit plate 107 01' the saidseparating chute 70 and drops therefrom into the pocket 6. From the saidpocket the material is fed by the action of the plunger 21 to the secondseparating chute 71, the lighter coal by its momentum, passing over theseparating blade 109, striking against the vdasher 136, and beingdeflected thereby downwardly into the pocket 11 while the slate owing toits being retarded by the retarding element at the discharge end of thesaid separating chute 71 strikes against the separating blade 109, andis directed thereby downwardly through the opening 133 from which itdrops on to the chute 2 which serves to discharge the slate from themachine. The plunger 22 operates to cause the coal to pass from thepocket 11 on to the sepa rating chute 7 2 which serves to separate theslate from the coal, the latter by its momentum passing from the saidchute 72 on to the separating blade 110 and from thence to the coaldischarge chute 130 while the slate and slaty or honey coal by theretarding action of the element 107 of the said separating chute 72drops therefrom into the pocket 8. From the said pocket the material iscaused to pass by the action of the plunger 23 to the separating chute73, the retarding element of which causes the slate to strike theseparating blade 111, and

be discharged through the opening 13 1 into the slate discharge chute 2,the, coal by its momentum passing from the said separating chute 73 overthe separating blade 111, striking the dasher 137 and being therebydeflected into the pocket 9. From the said pocket the material by theaction of the plunger 24 is caused to pass on to the chute 74 fro-mwhich the coal by its momentum is discharged on to the separating blade112 and from the same on to the coal chute 131, the slaty or boney coalby the action of the retarding element of the said separating chute 74dropping into the pocket 10 and being from thence discharged by thechute 135 for crushing and reworking.

The theory of operation of my improved five drop tandem slate pickingmachine is as follows: In the material, coal mixed with slate, as itcomes from the mine, delivered to the machine, the coal predominates, isseparated from the slate, and by the coaction of the first separatingchute 70, separating blade 108, and chute 129 is at once discharged fromthe machine. The major portion of the material which drops from thefirst separating chute 7 0 into the pocket 6 is slate, and this materialis treated by the second separating chute 71, and the reversedseparating blade 109, the slate being at once discharged from the saidsecond separating chute by the said reverse blade through the opening133 into the slate chute 2, and hence from the machine, while the coalpasses over said reversed blade 109 into the pocket 11, the materialwhich drops into the said pocket being principally coal. This materialis treated by the third separating chute 72 and the major portionthereof being .coal, is discharged therefrom on to the separating blade110, and at once taken off from the machine by the chute 130, suchmaterial as fails to drop upon said blade 110 falling into the pocket 8.Of this material which thus falls into the pocket 8, the major portionis slate and such material is treated by the fourth separating chute 73with which the reversed separating blade 111 coacts to discharge themajor slaty portion, through the opening 134 into the chute 2 while thelighter portion mainly coal, passes from the said separating chute 7 3over the blade 111, and falls into the pocket 9. Qf the material whichreaches this pocket, the major portion is coal, and this is delivered bythe action of the separating chute 74, and the blade 112 on to the chute131, the residue which is slate or honey coal, dropping from the saidseparating chute 74.- into the pocket 10 and being carried off from themachine by the chute 135 for crushing and reworking. Hence it will beunderstood that at the first and each alter nate drop, the coal whichconstitutes the major portion of the material is at once discharged fromthe machine, and at each intermediate drop, the slate which constitutesa majority of the material is at once dlscharged from the machinethrough the slate chute, and the residue retreated.

In Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings, I show a preferred and improved formof retardmg element for the separating chutes, the same comprising ametallic pan 150 having side walls 151 which converge downwardly ortoward the discharge end of the chute on which the pan is used, and thebottom 152 of which pan is provided with longitudinally curvedcorrugations which form correspondingly curved channels 153 in the uppersurfaces of the bottom pan and correspondingly curved ridges 154 whichseparate and are disposed between the said channels. The ridges of thecorrugations form bars'on the upper surface of the bottom of the pan,the depressed portions of the corrugations forming the channels betweenthe bars. The cords of the arcs formed by the said longitudinally curvedchannels converge toward the discharge end of the pan and hence materialpasses over the bottom of the pan, and is'deflected by the said curvedchannels toward the center of the pan before being discharged therefrom.

The pieces of slate which are intermixed with mined coal are almostinvariably relatively long, so that one dimension thereof greatlyexceeds the other dimensions while the pieces of coal are more nearlycubical in form. By the provision of the longitudinally curved channelsin the bottom of the retarding pan, the pieces of slate are defleet-edfrom a right line, as it passes down over the pan, and directed in anoblique line as they are discharged therefrom, so that they fall shortof the coal which by reason of its shorter length does not becomedeflected by the longitudinally curved channels to nearly so great anextent as thepieces of slate. Hence the slate which falls short of thecoal falls directly through one of the openings, and into the slatedischarge chute while the pieces of coal pass over the separating knifebelow the chute as will be understood.

' I claim 1. A slate picker of the class described comprising a frameand slate picking mechanism carried by the frame and including movableplungers, gudgeons on the under side of the said frame at a pointinterme diate its ends and provided with bearings, a support havingshoes on which the gudgcons have their bearings, a driving shaft mountedin the bearings in the gudgeons and operating mechanism for theplunger-s, carried by the said frame and connected to and driven by thesaid driving shaft.

2. A slate picker of the class described comprising a frame and slatepicking mechanism carried by the frame and including movable plungers, adriving shaft mounted at a point intermediate the ends of the frame,pivotal supports for the frame, concentric with the said driving shaft,whereby the driving shaft constitutes the pivotal axis of the frame andthe said frame is adapted for vertical angular adjustment, means toadjust the said frame and support the same at any desired inclinationand operating mechanism for the plungers, carried by the frame andconnected to and driven by the said driving shaft.

3. A slate picker of the class described comprising a frame and slatepicking mechanism carried by the frame and including movable plungers, adriving shaft mounted at a point intermediate the ends of the frame,pivotal supports for the frame, concentric with the said driving shaft,whereby the driving shaft constitutes the pivotal axis of the frame andthe said frame is adapted for vertical angular adjustment, means toadjust the said frame and support the same at any desired inclination,eccentrics on the driving shaft, rocking element-s carried by the frameand connected to the plungers, and eccentric rods connected to therocking elements and having eccentric straps engaging the eccentrics ofthe driving shaft.

4. A slate picker of the class described having an inclined plane, andan inclined 1 separating chute, spaced from the said plane, a guide-waybetween the said plane and said separating chute, and presenting a pairof spaced vertical walls between the opposing ends of and extendingtransversely across the inclined plane and the separating chute, and aplunger movable in the said guide-way, the said plunger having anupwardly extending tongue on its upperside to form a pocket, when saidplunger is in lowered position in the guide-way.

5. In a machine of the class described a plunger comprising a pair oflower angle bars having their upper webs disposed in overlappingrelation, and an upper angle bar having its lower web bearing on theuppermost web of the first mentioned angle bars, the upright web ofthelast mentioned angle bar forming a tongue extending above the saidplunger.

6. In a machine of the class described, a plunger comprising a crossbar, a pair of angle bars arranged in reverse order with their upperwebs in overlapping relation,

and their depending webs on opposite sides of said cross bar, and anupper angle bar having one of its webs bearing on the per web of one ofthe said pair of bars, and its other web extending upwardly from thefront side of the plunger and forming a tongue thereon. V

7 In a machine of the class described, the combination of an inclinedslate chute, a separating chute above the slate chute, a pocket belowthe lower end of said separating chute, a deflector above the rearportion of said pocket, and a separating knife in ad vance of thedeflector, and spaced from the rear of the separating chute, said knifeextending downwardly and bearing against the front side of the pocket.

8. Ina machine of the class described, a frame having an inclined track,and a separating chute carried by said frame, said separating chutecomprising an upper member connected at its upper end to the said framefor angular movement in a vertical plane, and a lower member mounted onsaid track and on the front upper portion of which the rear lowerportion of said upper member bears, means to longitudinally adjust saidlower member, and means to vary the in clina-tion thereof, and hencecause the same to also vary the inclination of the upper member.

9. In a machine of-the class described, the combination of a framehaving an inclined track, and a separating chute comprising an uppermember connected at its upper front end to the frame for angularmovement in a vertical plane, and a lower member on which the rearportion of the upper member bears, said lower member having a retardingelement extending below and beyond said upper member, the latter havingvertically eX- tending walls forming sides above the said lower member,said lower member being mounted and adjustable longitudinally on saidtrack.

10. In a machine of the class described, a chute, knees secured to thesides of the chute, a cross bar connecting the knees, asupporting trackcarried by the chute and a separating trough comprising a lower memberand an upper member, said lower member being disposed adjustably on thetrack, and the said upper member bearing at its rear portion on the saidlower member, and being provided at its front upper end with hooks,engaging the said knees, and connecting said upper member to the saidknees for vertical angular movement ofsaid upper member.

11. In a machine of the class described, a chute, knees secured to thesides of the chute, a cross bar connecting the knees, a supporting trackcarried by the chute and aseparating trough comprising a lower memberand an upper member, said lower member being disposed adjustably on thetrack, and the said upper member bearing at its rear portion on the saidlower member, and being ice provided at its front upper end with hooks,engaging the said knees, and connecting said upper member to the saidknees for vertical angular movement of said upper member, said lowermember being provided also with means for vertically adjusting the upperfront end thereof.

12. In a machine of the class described, a chute having side walls, aseparating chute between the said side walls, a plunger operating at thedischarge end of the said separating chute, a rock shaft and bearingsfor the rock shaft in the sides of the first mentioned chute, andmovable angular-1y in said bearings to admit of flexibility and lostmotion between said shaft and the said chute, and means operated by thesaid rock shaft to actuate the said plunger.

13. In a slate picker of the class described, comprising a. main frame,coal picking mechanism, including movable plungers, carried by the mainframe, gudgeons on the under side of the main frame at pointsintermediate the ends thereof, a support having shoes provided withbearings in their upper sides for the gudgeons whereby the main frame ispivotally mounted on the support for angular movement in a verticalplane, means to adjust the main frame, operating means for the plungers,carried by the main frame, a driving shaft, arranged transversely of themain frame, spherical sleeves therefor having their bearings in thegudgeons, and a connection between the driving shaft and plungeroperating mechanism, to cause the plungers to operate and to be drivenfrom the driving shaft.

14. An inclined retarder of the class described, having a bottomprovided on its upper surface with downwardly converging ribs andchannels.

15. An inclined retarder of the class described, having a bottomprovided on its upper surface with downwardly converging longitudinallycurved ribs and channels.

16. In a machine of the class described the combination of a frame, aninlet at one end for the material to be sorted, a series of in clinedseparating chutes spaced apart longitudinally of the frame, feedingdevices at the entrance to the chutes, a slate discharge beneath thechutes, coal discharges arranged in the alternate spaces between thechutes, blades arranged in the spaces between the chutes, the alternateblades directing the material from the preceding chute one directing aportion into the coal discharge and a p0rtion into the succeeding chuteand the next a portion into the slate discharge and another portion intothe succeeding chute.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. CHARLES S. FARRER. Witnesses ELIZABETH O. FARRER, S. B.BULKLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

